Articles by or Featuring Falmouth Center for Dental Implants
Dental Implants: Building Foundations That Last a Lifetime
Since their introduction in the early 1980’s, dental implants have become the most comfortable, predictable and long lasting solution to a wide variety of dental problems. Millions of dental implants are placed annually throughout the world to address missing teeth, loose or ill-fitting dentures, and preservation of bone.
A dental implant is a titanium anchor which is placed into the jaw bone and which fuses together with the jaw bone. While the sound of that might be intimidating, in reality, it is one of the least traumatic procedures in all of dentistry. The implant is placed with a little local anesthetic, there is usually little swelling or discomfort afterwards and most patients resume normal activities the same day. Dental implants can often be placed at the same time a tooth is extracted, allowing all of the surgical treatment to be performed in one visit. Once placed, it normally takes 8-16 weeks for the implant and the bone to fuse together, and once this has occurred, the implant can be restored or “loaded” and used to help retain a crown, a bridge, or a denture. The long term success rate of dental implants is 97-98%.
Dental implants help to preserve bone in your mouth. When a tooth is lost, the bone that retains it slowly dissolves away because it is not serving the purpose for which it was intended. When an implant is placed, the bone has a new sense of purpose….it supports the implant and further bone loss is prevented.
There are different ways of solving dental problems, and your dentist is the best person to give you advice. In most cases, delay will only complicate your dental treatment and increase its cost. Treating your problem today will almost always offer you the easiest and least expensive approach.
Dental implants usually last a lifetime, and while they can be costly, they have proven to be one of the best investments one can make in his or her long term oral health. If you are missing teeth or anticipate losing a tooth, or have a denture which does not fit well, talk to your dentist about dental implants. Your ability to eat comfortably and smile with self-assurance will dramatically improve your quality of life.
(Dr. Goldstein is a board certified periodontist with a practice located at 33A Edgerton Drive in the Bayside Medical Center in North Falmouth. For more information about dental implants, please visit www.capeimplants.com or contact his office).